Honesdale Borough Council hears Main Street revitalization update; input asked

Peter Becker, Tri-County Independent
·3 min read

Jayson Wood of Woodland Design Associates made a presentation to Honesdale Borough Council on April 22, on the Main Street revitalization project spearheaded by Greater Honesdale Partnership (GHP).

A design committee including a couple council members, a couple community-at-large members and GHP board directors formulated the plan over several years, GHP Executive Director Sandi Levens told council. Council and community input have always been integral, Wood stressed. Landowners' input is vital.

Among the features Wood said they would like to include are shared street kiosks to replace individual parking meters. Parking spaces are proposed to be nine feet wide, a foot wider than at present. Corner bump-outs, he said, will give clear line-of-sight keeping safer pedestrian crossing. Lighting fixtures will shield upper story apartment windows from light and allow hanging of planter boxes, banners, and mounted, flat Christmas tree decorations.

Route 6 bicycle route symbols are to be added to the pavement.

Jayson Wood of Woodland Design Associates in Honesdale discussed the status of the downtown Main Street revitalization program at the April 22, 2024, borough council meeting. At left are Councilors Tiffany Rogers and James Hamill.
Jayson Wood of Woodland Design Associates in Honesdale discussed the status of the downtown Main Street revitalization program at the April 22, 2024, borough council meeting. At left are Councilors Tiffany Rogers and James Hamill.

Wood estimated that to do the full upgrade down Main from 12th to 4th streets will cost between $4.2 million and $10.7 million, done in phases as grant funds allow. Another part of the revitalization project is pedestrian upgrades to 12th Street between Main and Church streets. Downtown commercial property facade grants are also part of the project; numerous business owners have already received funds to help with upgrades.

Main Street renovations will begin with the 1200 block of Main between 12th and 11th, funded by a $1.3 million award from the federal Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside program announced later that week, and $450,000 previously awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development.

Design concessions were necessary to meet Pennsylvania Department of Transportation specifications.

Mayor Derek Williams said at the council meeting that since Main and Church streets went one-way in 2009, big discussions have occurred over pedestrian safety. Councilor James Hamill said that prior councils and the mayor have been big advocates for pedestrian safety. Hamill called the process "inspiring" to have the current designs with continued opportunity to share ideas.

As a example of the need to upgrade public safety in downtown Honesdale, Jayson Wood of Woodland Design Associates showed borough council on April 22, 2024, a picture of the time on Nov. 19, 2021, when one of the steel electric light poles holding a Christmas tree decoration broke in a windstorm and collapsed on a parked car on Main Street. PPL subsequently replaced rusted poles, and Greater Honesdale Partnership stored away the Christmas trees that were meant to decorate the street that holiday season.

GHP Board President Brian Wilken added at the council presentation, "Everyone wins here; there are no losers here... We will have safer streets. People will be able to use them and feel safe."

In a long-range phase, Wilken said, the hope is to include a parking garage in the present borough parking area behind the post office. "We've pumped more money into Main Street than has been done in a long, long time," Wilken said. "People are coming here because they see that Honesdale has something going on... We became a designated downtown organization; we are even nationally recognized as a downtown organization,” he said.

Honesdale became the PA Route 6 Heritage Alliance Community of the Year in 2023, Wilken added, “all because we are all willing to work together and make something positive happen." He said the "ball keeps rolling" and this is their time to build on previous projects to improve the downtown.

This is a view of the 900 block of Main Street in Honesdale. Greater Honesdale Partnership, with Honesdale Borough, is planning a major downtown Main Street upgrade to improve both public safety and aesthetics.
This is a view of the 900 block of Main Street in Honesdale. Greater Honesdale Partnership, with Honesdale Borough, is planning a major downtown Main Street upgrade to improve both public safety and aesthetics.

Asked about earlier discussed ideas of a pedestrian side street closure, Wood said that for the first five years, the borough and GHP are focusing on Main Street from 12th to 4th, and improvements on 12th Street along the river. In the long term, as funding permits, they hope to be able to extend revitalization to other streets.

Wilken called the project a "labor of love" and they continuously welcomed the borough council's input. "It's always been Honesdale first," Wilken said.

For more information about the Greater Honesdale Partnership and the Main Street corridor enhancement project, visit visithonesdalepa.com or call 570-253-5492.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Honesdale council receives downtown Main Street revitalization update